Scientists state that the severe and widespread heatwave scorching western Europe is only possible due to the climate crisis driven by fossil fuel burning. A scientific analysis concluded that such high temperatures across the continent would not have been possible without global warming, warning that continued fossil-fuel emissions are directly responsible for the disruption people are experiencing.
The record-breaking June heat would have been virtually impossible 50 years ago, providing proof that human-caused climate change is unequivocally responsible for the intensity of the event. The study found that a similar heatwave would have been 3.5°C cooler during the day in June 1976. Furthermore, the current heatwave is now 200 times more likely than it was 20 years ago.
Almost half of Europe's 850 largest cities are enduring their worst ever heat stress, a combination of temperature and humidity. These muggier conditions make sweating less effective at cooling the body, making heatwaves even more dangerous. While Germany expects temperatures to warm up even more, scientists noted that the El Nino weather pattern did not contribute to Europe's severe heat.